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The ups and downs at Chapman Hill

“The hill doesn’t get any less steep,” said Steve Ilg, who has done the Chapman Challenge Uphill/Downhill Race numerous times in the past. Ilg cools off after running the challenge in snowshoes on Friday night at Chapman Hill.

The uninitiated might assume the skier would have the advantage.

“Take a seat and watch,” veteran Chapman Challenge contestant Steve Ilg advised just before Friday night’s uphill/downhill race at Chapman Hill.

Ilg’s snowshoes served him well, but he couldn’t beat the runners. Weston Burear was the first to complete three laps up and down the slushy snow.

“One more,” several in the crowd told him as he completed his last loop.

“I thought it was three,” he said as he started back up the hill briefly before realizing he was being hoaxed.

The 18 contestants – on skis, snowshoes, boots, a saucer and an inner tube – was a bit down from the previous three years of the event, said race organizer Miles Venzara of Pine Needle Mountaineering.

Not long after the start, it was obvious the skiers, who had to take climbing skins off at the top and put them on again at the bottom, were heavily disadvantaged. Skiers also had to dodge several loose dogs as they sped through the bottom of the course.

“Man, our skiers are getting worked,” Venzara said.

But it was mostly for fun and a good workout. Did you train, first-time competitor Brendan Cusick was asked?

“For this? No.”

– John Peel

Jan 30, 2015
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Twisting the night away


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